Ford Sees Four Cylinders Vehicles On The Rise

At the moment, more than half of U.S. new-car sales are cars equipped with four-cylinder engines. Ford expects that number to climb to 66 percent by 2020.

Here's how the market currently breaks down: subcompact, compact, and midsize vehicles are coming equipped with four-cylinder vehicles. Subcompact and compact crossovers are also following the same trend.

Many analysts believe Ford's estimate is high, but not of the question.

"I think it's maybe a stretch. But I don't find it implausible. If you look at where things have been going segment by segment, except pickups, you could say that's been the trend," said Bill Visnic, senior editor at Edmunds.

However, some analysts say pickup trucks and large SUVs, which account for 13 percent of car sales overall and use V6 and V8 engines could put a halt to Ford's prediction.

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Same with GM, if they would build a New Mini Pickup LUV with a 2.9L Duramax Diesel, they would see major sales. They are so hooked on full size pickup sales that they forget that a big group of people do not need mid or full size trucks. A coworker just bought a well used S10 as he made it very clear that he does not have any use for a full size and mid is still to big for someone who lives in the city. He loves the small mini trucks as they do all he needs.

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If someone ... say a domestic manufacturer... would actually build a proper compact pickup... maybe that number would climb further. How about it Ford?

If Ford were to build a 21st Century Ranger or smaller, that could work with a 4cyl. Problem is is that it would cut into those juicy F-series sales and profits.

Price it accordingly. The F-150 now base prices at $23,995 for the most basic work truck. That leaves some room under the F-150 for a compact truck.

But I suppose I should be careful what I wish for. Knowing Ford, they'd base it off the Transit Connect.

Would a transit based mini truck be that bad? If you can have a bare bones mini truck, 4 banger with 5 or 6 speed manual start at $14,999 and top out right around $23,999 I think you would pick up many sales from city folk who want and need a mini truck without all the bulk or pricy add-ons of a full size. While I myself would like it to be RWD, I can see a market for FWD Mini trucks.

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“If you look at our past, there’s been some nameplates that have dropped off and other nameplates have been added. Given where the market is going, the demands for capital investment and the regulatory changes coming at us, we’ll continue to always look at the total portfolio and see where’s segmentation going and where should we be phasing out,” said Hinrichs.
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As more consumers head over to crossovers and SUVs, automakers find themselves making changes to their lineup. Case in point is Ford which is considering dropping some of their nameplates because of the change in demand.
“Over time, there should be some pruning of the portfolio to support growth in other areas. Clearly we’re going to invest in growing the SUV portfolio. We certainly intend to have a strong car base as well; we don’t know where the market’s going to go. But there will be some pruning over time as there should be in a nameplate and portfolio,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford president of the Americas.
Ford's car sales are down 14 percent through November with sedans being the big losers.
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Focus: Down 17 percent YTD
Taurus: Down 11 percent YTD
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“If you look at our past, there’s been some nameplates that have dropped off and other nameplates have been added. Given where the market is going, the demands for capital investment and the regulatory changes coming at us, we’ll continue to always look at the total portfolio and see where’s segmentation going and where should we be phasing out,” said Hinrichs.
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Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

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